American Sheep Magazine March 2026

CONVENTION COVERAGE 2026

The Wool Policy Forum is where ASI brings produc ers and wool-sector partners into the same room to focus on the “behind-the-scenes” forces that shape the American wool pipeline: domestic capacity, military demand, impact of tariff policies and new markets. It matters because the decisions discussed here aren’t abstract: they affect what’s possible for growers and what buyers can confidently source. What fol lowed was a clear look at forces shaping wool’s next year: Ashley Bullock’s Wool Policy Forum presentation put wool into a bigger national context: the U.S. textile supply chain is a major employer and a key part of na tional defense and wool producers are upstream of it all. Drawing on National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) reporting, he noted the U.S. textile supply chain supported 471,046 jobs in 2024 and shipped $63.9B in textiles/apparel. DOMESTIC CAPACITY Mitch Drigger, ASI Procurement consultant, put a clear price tag on new domestic scouring capacity: large commercial-scale mill was discussed at roughly $40 mil lion from greenstart, reflecting the water-intensive nature of scouring, industrial washing requirements, and permit ting complexity under U.S. effluent rules. The discussion emphasized balance, exploring the cost and feasibility of much smaller scouring options while also protecting and strengthening the processors operating today. Maintaining a viable domestic first-stage processing base is critical to national supply chain resilience. Without it, military supply commitments and the stability of large spinners and knitters are placed at risk. At the same time, the industry must pursue scalable solutions that support small- and medium-sized mills, helping shorten delivery timelines and improve responsiveness to the market. WOOL POLICY FORUM: WHERE WOOL MEETS POLICY, MARKETS, AND MOMENTUM "Wool is moving into a specialty-fiber future, so our job is to understand the market forces, protect the supply chain that supports national defense, and make sure American wool stays in the conversation.” TEXTILE SNAPSHOT

STRATEGIC TAKEAWAYS:

1. Existing first-stage processors (scouring & topmaking) must be strengthened to sustain the U.S. wool supply chain. 2. The U.S. military market depends on reliable domestic pro cessing under Berry Amendment rules. 3. Scouring is essential, costly to build ($40 million), and complex. Feasibility of small-scale scouring options should be explored.

INNOVATION & DEMAND-BUILDING

David Trumbull a specialist in textile trade, underscored that the U.S. military remains a cornerstone market, and that procurement rules like the Berry Amendment help keep Amer ican wool in play making domestic capability and reliability a strategic priority. On the manufacturing side, Crescent Textile Solutions (Wisconsin) shared how the company has rebranded and broadened its portfolio, reflecting a wider shift: wool is increas ingly competing as a specialty fiber with multiple end uses, not just a commodity input. Internationally, guests from Sweden Johan Everding and Helena Holmquist (Wool Rebel) offered a case study in value creation turning wool that would otherwise be discarded into FÅRTEX® wool insulation for quilted outerwear and midlay ers, and even testing wool blankets in cold-field applications like the “Glacier Blanket” project. Together, the message was consistent: innovation plus market access can move more wool…and keep it moving.

FUNDING & INCENTIVES

Sagemont Advisors outlined federal and state tax credit opportunities that can reward R&D and sustainability work, especially when there’s a real technical challenge, uncertainty, and documented experimentation.

TEXTILES BY THE NUMBERS:

471,046

Jobs in the U.S. textile supply chain (2024)

$63.9B

Value of U.S. textile & apparel shipments (2024)

$28B

U.S. exports of fiber, textiles & apparel (2024)

$12.3B

Of U.S. textile exports shipped to Mexico & Canada

$20B

In two-way textile trade with Mexico & Canada.

TOP 5

Top states for textile jobs: GA, NC, SC, CA, TX

2ND

The U.S. is the 2nd largest global exporter of textile-related products

ASHLEY BULLOCK | INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE GROUP

TOP 5

Export Markets: Mexico, China, Canada, Honduras, Pakistan

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